Catacomb of Calepodius

The Catacomb of Calepodius (also called the Cemetery of Calepodius) is one of the Catacombs of Rome, notable for containing the tombs of Pope Callixtus I (ironically, the creator of the Catacomb of Callixtus, which once contained the tombs of a dozen other popes) and Pope Julius I, along with the eponymous Calepodius.

Prominent interments

Callixtus I (217–222) was interred in the Catacomb of Calepodius,[1] instead of that which bears his name, allegedly because the latter was under surveillance of the emperor's guards; this legend as well as that of Callixtus I's martyrdom is unlikely as there was no persecution of Christians under Alexander Severus, the emperor when Callixtus I died.[2] However, Julius I erected a more elaborate tomb of Callixtus I in the catacomb in the fourth century, decorated with frescos of his alleged martyrdom.[2] This tomb was discovered in 1960, although the relics were likely translated to Santa Maria in Trastevere in 790 by Pope Adrian I due to the impending Lombard invasion.[2]

The only other papal tomb in the Catacomb of Calepodius was that of Pope Julius I (337–352), who was translated with Callixtus I to Santa Maria in Trastevere.[3] Calepodius, the early Christian martyr eponymous with the Catacomb was translated with the two pontiffs.

See also

Notes
  1. Matilda Webb (2001). The Churches and Catacombs of Early Christian Rome: A Comprehensive Guide. Sussex Academic Press. pp. 229–. ISBN 978-1-902210-57-5.
  2. Reardon, 2004, p. 26.
  3. Reardon, 2004, p. 35.

References
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.